( i79 ) 
even whole trees, form the compofition of peat 
beds. Young plants are covered with mofs 
in order to preferve them from froft, or burn- 
ing heat. The gardener wraps his newly- 
grafted trees with mofs, as from it's power of 
retaining moifture a long time without pu- 
trifying it preferves them from the injuries of 
outward drought, and prevents the juices of 
the graft from evaporating. Since the time 
of Linneus it has been well eftabliflied, that 
the mufci, or mofles, have diftindl fructifi- 
cations, though botanifts are yet divided in 
regard to their fituation ; but as thefe plants 
now have excited general attention, a few 
years will give us, I hope, a revifal of the 
works of Linneus, with the improved know- 
ledge derived from modern inveftigation : 
already an improvement in the clafs Crypto- 
gamia has, I believe, t been attempted and re- 
ceived ; which encourages us to hope, we 
may fee, at no very diftant period, that di- 
vifion of extraordinary plants no longer a re- 
proach to the fcience. At prefent, the outer 
habits, and fituation as to the growth of 
the flowers or capfules, are chiefly made ufe 
of to diftinguifli the genera of mofles. Thefe 
plants refemble pines, firs, and other ever- 
N 2 greens 
